Israel says

thank you
Dear Friends,

During the summer, thanks to your support, the Jewish Agency provided a swift and effective
response to meet the extraordinary needs of Israel’s northern citizens under fire. Within
48 hours of the outbreak of war, we took 40,000 children out of harm’s way into summer
camps and activities in safe regions of Israel, equipped thousands of bomb shelters, cared for
thousands of vulnerable immigrants living on the front line, adopted lone immigrant soldiers
wounded in battle, and provided culturally appropriate assistance to non-Jewish Israeli citizens
in the North.
In the immediate aftermath of the war, we continue to be the driving force in Israel, as we
work to rebuild the North. Through initiatives such as providing urgent financial assistance to
small businesses devastated by the war, fun mega-fairs in northern cities, and scholarships for
reserve soldiers called to duty as well as students studying in colleges throughout the North,
we are transforming trauma into recovery.
Every single response we provided during the war was made possible through the generous
support of you, our partners. This booklet is a small sample of the hundreds of letters we
received from Israel’s citizens thanking the Jewish Agency for our assistance. The letters are
a tribute to our supporters worldwide, who make our work possible throughout the year and
especially in times of crisis.
Throughout the war and in its aftermath, you were the ones who gave us strength and
provided us with the opportunity to effectively fulfill our mission during this critical time. Your
extraordinary generosity, immediate mobilization which will never be forgotten, and your
ongoing solidarity were truly exceptional.
As you read the letters on the following pages, please share our sense of pride and
accomplishment. We deeply appreciate your generosity and solidarity with Israel.
May we be blessed with peace and security for Israel and the Jewish People worldwide.

Carole Solomon Zeev Bielski

Chair, Jewish Agency Chairman of Jewish Agency Executive
Board of Governors
 July 25, 2006

Mr. Zeev Bielski

Chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive
The Jewish Agency for Israel
Jerusalem

D e a r Ze ev,

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to you and the entire staff of the Jewish
Agency for all of your amazing efforts for the benefit of the residents of the north and
our forces in Lebanon.
I would also like to send a special thanks to the international leadership of the Jewish
Agency and the Federations throughout the world and Israel for their unwavering
support for the State of Israel during these days.
I gain great strength and encouragement from your steadfast stand and actions and
ask that you convey my sincere thanks and appreciation to all of our friends in Israel
and the Diaspora.

Sincerely yours,
Ehud Olmert
 I s r a e l ’s c h i l d r e n s a y t h a n k y o u

Thank you Jewish Agency for bringing us

the musical Games

Dear Mr. Bielski,

Now that that the sounds of war have passed, and in the hope that we will achieve the quiet
that our people has yearned for these thousands of years, thank you for everything you’ve
done as Chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive and you and your staff continue to do in
the war torn northern communities.
It is good to know that there is at least one serious organization in this country that can be
trusted when called upon to act and not just sit by and wait.

Just an admiring citizen,

Shlomit Brandes

Thank you!
Thank you for everything.
You have made us very happy!
(to the Jewish Agency)

Thank you for taking care of

the children

Dear Shlomit,
Please accept my heartfelt thanks for your warm letter.
Thanks to the wonderful staff of Jewish Agency employees and management, we were able
to provide significant assistance to the communities of the north as well as some 30,000
children whom we were able to bring from the north to the country’s central region.

Once again thank you,

Sincerely yours,
Zeev Bielski

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I s r a e l ’s c h i l d r e n s a y t h a n k y o u
Dear All!
My name is Dana Michaeli and I want to offer
you my heartfelt thanks for including me in the
recipients of donations from the UJC.
It is difficult to describe the financial straits in
which I found myself after the war. It was if dark
clouds of winter were blooming over me in
August. I was desperate and, out of the blue, the
donation you sent me rekindled my wish to get
back up on my feet and rehabilitate my business.
The energy shot you gave me has worked far
beyond my hopes and, together with my will and
determination, my business has returned to a
reasonable state.
I wish you all a happy new year, thank you very
very much!
Dana Michaeli
After all the help we received during
Kibbutz Lehavot Habasahan, Mobile Post 12125 the difficult times, we are happy that
25.09.2006 we made our home in Israel. Thank you
and thank you again.
Natalia Morozov and family
4.9.06
20/9/06
The Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Jewish
Agency volunteers and all the generous donors
Re: My thanks to you
As a resident of the north (Tzefat) I went through
a difficult period with missiles falling on us from
every direction, the sounds of loud explosions and Thank you to the Jewish Agency for
a lot of concern for our country. One thought kept everything you did for us. You warmed
racing through my head – how would be able to our hearts.
pick up from there? How would we manage with Dganit Schwartz
all the bills we have to pay? How could we keep
on working? And what will happen at the end of
the war? Now I know. Kind people, and generous
organizations – including the Jewish Agency –
provided me with a safety net, by supporting me
during the war, and after it ended. The thought
that there are people here, and all over the world, Thank you
who care about me was very heartwarming. to the Jewish Agency.
I would like to offer you all my personal thanks for
Shirtal Biton
the warm embrace. I am proud of you. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.
Happy new year,
Benny Houry
53/2 Biriah St., Tzefat 13805
 I s r a e l ’s c h i l d r e n s a y t h a n k y o u

RE: A Letter of Thanks and Appreciation for your Activities

and Contribution

Dear Zeev,
Please accept my sincere appreciation for the enormous efforts
made by the Jewish Agency for the benefit of the residents of
The activities you arranged for us were
the north. The summer camps and special fun days initiated by
great fun. Stay as wonderful as you are
your agency contributed greatly and assisted Misgav area young
and keep up the good work.
people in getting a breath of fresh air, rejuvenate their energies
and even compensated for some the lost summer vacation. Shimon Cohen
Residents, parents, children and young people, all of us wish to 11th grade, Akko
thank you for the attention and fantastic efforts made by the
Jewish Agency and its many representatives.
Let us pray that these difficult days will pass quickly and that
aside from the pain and mourning we shall remain with a
wonderful sense of mutual assistance as well as a blessing on all
those who contributed and assisted.

Sincerely yours,
Erez Kriesler
Mayor Misgav Regional Council

My name is Imam, My name

is Roy from the kindergarten,
thank you for the great toys

My name is Rima from the

second grade, the games
were beautiful

To All Those Who Contributed- Thank You From The Bottom Of

Our Heart!
Although it is out of character for me, I will allow myself to use
the cliché “friendships are best measured in difficult times”.
You have proven to be true friends of our community and our
council employees. You’ve proven this during a truly difficult
month, during all hours of the day. We applaud you.
If I were to write a personal letter to each and every one
of you, I’d be writing for more than a month, because the
numbers are truly amazing. It seemed to us that everyone was
happy to help, initiate and/or respond to any request large
or small. Families hosted us in their homes; companies fed us
and even arranged for us to have perfect weather, etc.
I truly apologize that I am unable to sit and write each of you
a hand-written letter of thanks. I ask you to see this letter as a
personal expression of my appreciation and thanks, to each
and every one of you for not holding back, for proving to this
community what Israelis are really made of during their time
of need.
To you, Mr. Yuval Frankel, Managing Director of “Amigur”
Housing Co. Ltd, thank you for supplying necessary
equipment to Rosh Pina’s shelters.

Avihud Raski
Mayor of Rosh Pina
 I s r a e l ’s c h i l d r e n s a y t h a n k y o u

Mr. Zeev Bielski

Chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive
The Jewish Agency for Israel
Jerusalem

RE: Thank you

Dear Zeev,
I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the residents
of the Ma’ale Yosef Regional Council and myself to thank you for
all of the heart-warming attention we received from you during
these difficult days of fighting in the north.
Your help and concern for our well-being warms our hearts and
strengthens the overwhelming majority of council residents.
To the Jewish Agency,
I am confident that the contributions of air-conditioners,
Thank you for toys...
televisions and emergency lighting made it just easier to sit in
the shelters and made it possible to maintain a strong home Hind
front for such an extended period.
I would kindly ask that you pass on our sincere appreciation to
all of the wonderful Jews from throughout the world who made
this contribution possible. Thanks also to the dedicated staff of
the Jewish Agency who deal with our residents, especially Mr.
David Ben Abraham and Mr. Sammy Bahat for their rapid and
professional implementation of this massive project.

Sincerely yours,
Avi Krampe, Mayor, Ma’ale Yosef Regional Council

RE: The “Move the children to Safety” Project

Dear Sir,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and the
professional staff of the Jewish Agency, fine individuals such as Mr. Dear Jewish Agency
Eli Carmeli, Mr. Dubi Kadori and Mrs. Mali Bar for their swift and Thank you for your support
dedicated care in organizing the opportunity for several hundred during the war and for the
children from throughout the city of Afula. Through their excellent fun mega-fair
work, our children were able to enjoy a variety of activities and
experiences at the numerous activity centers set up last week, all
of which were established with little advanced warning:
• 50 children spent five great days at “the Agron House”
in Jerusalem
• 85 children and teens participated in weeklong summer camps
at the “Shekmim” Field School operated by the Israel Nature
Protection Society
• 105 children and teens spent five wonderful days at the
“Mamasheet” Camel Ranch near Dimona
Your swift and welcomed initiative contributed greatly to the
peace of mind of hundreds of children and their parents who
suffered during the recent hostilities.
Please accept our sincerest appreciation.

Sincerely yours,
Menachem Yabor, Acting Mayor, City of Afula
 I s r a e l ’s c h i l d r e n s a y t h a n k y o u

Kudos to the Jewish Agency on your

initiative for the children of Akko

Mr. Zeev Bielski

Chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive
The Jewish Agency for Israel
Jerusalem
RE: An Expression of Thanks and Appreciation

Dear Zeev,
Even during these difficult hours, I felt it only proper to take the time to praise and thank you and your fine
staff for the extensive assistance provided by the Jewish Agency for Israel to the city of Akko and other
northern communities as well.
I cannot adequately describe the deep appreciation that I have for the help and assistance granted the
residents of Akko within such a short time, in this way helping many of our residents to cope with the fears
and hardships that they are facing in this difficult hour.
Please accept my sincere thanks for the dozens of ventilators, air-conditioning units and other equipment
supplied to the city’s shelters.
Special thanks for the amazing assistance you provided us in preparing literally hundreds of the city’s
public shelters.
I have no doubt that during this difficult period no one is better qualified or deserving to hold such an My name is Amir Eb’n Tabak, thank you
important position. I am confident that your rich, successful and extensive experience as a mayor served for the games and for everything else
you well during these long days.
On behalf of the people of the city of Akko and myself- thank you, thank you very much for all you’ve done.

Sincerely yours,
Shimon Lankri, Mayor, City of Akko
 I s r a e l ’s c h i l d r e n s a y t h a n k y o u

Thank you to the Jewish Agency

Keep up the good work. I hope there won’t be any
more wars anywhere in the world, and that all the
soldiers get home safely. I hope everyone carries on
smiling, because life is very beautiful and we should
make the most of it.
Yafit Biton
Akko

Mr. Zeev Bielski Mrs. Carole Solomon

Chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive Chairperson of the Board of Governors
The Jewish Agency for Israel The Jewish Agency for Israel
Jerusalem Jerusalem

An Expression of Thanks and Appreciation

I would like to take this opportunity to express my fullest appreciation and thanks for the Take care of yourselves, and
numerous activities and extensive assistance provided in this difficult hour to all of the may all your wishes come
communities along the battlefront and in particular the town of Metulla. true, always...
The summer camps sponsored by your organization, the TV’s and air-conditioners that
made it easier to sit in the shelters, help us in these difficult times, and the heartwarming
concern shown by Jews throughout the world, in particular the Jewish Communities of
Canada and San Francisco, does much to strengthen our spirits.
Once again, I want to express my sincerest appreciation to the Jewish Agency staff and
note our excellent relations with Mrs. Ronit Antler.

Sincerely yours,
Kobi Katz, Mayor, Metulla Local Council
 I s r a e l ’s c h i l d r e n s a y t h a n k y o u

Mr. Zeev Bielski

Chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive
The Jewish Agency for Israel
Jerusalem

Dear Sir,
I would like to take this opportunity to express my
fullest appreciation for the initiative taken by the
Jewish Agency to facilitate our children’s stay in
Thank you to the Jewish
the shelters, by providing our region with 35
Agency for all its help.
air-conditioning units and 15 new TV’s for our
school system. Shirtal Biton
I am amazed by the level of efficiency, speed
and organization in which this initiative was
conducted.
We can only hope and pray that the government
will fulfill its promises in such a fine manner as the
Jewish Agency.
Once more, thank you for everything.

Sincerely yours,

Shlomo Hever
Mayor
Zebulon Regional Council

Mr. Zeev Bielski

Chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive
The Jewish Agency for Israel Thank you so much to the Jewish
Jerusalem Agency for all the wonderful help
you gave the children.
Thanks!
Dear Sir,
I would like to express my sincere thanks for the
opportunity afforded the young people of Migdal
Haemek to be partners in the wonderful activities
and hospitality organized within the framework
of numerous Youth Villages in the center of the
country.
Our young people enjoyed the warm-hearted
attention, quality social activities and excellent
conditions.
Your attention to our needs strengthens us and
provides us with a true sense of partnership.
Please convey my sincere thanks and appreciation
to my dear friend Mr. Yehuda Sharf for his
professional aid and counsel.
Looking forward to years of continued cooperation,

Sincerely yours,

Eli Bardeh
Mayor , Migdal Haemek
 I s r a e l ’s c h i l d r e n s a y t h a n k y o u

To the Jewish Agency!

I would like to thank you for your
wonderful initiative and donation.
Thank you with all my heart.
From the Alharrar (Dekel) family
Aabalin Regional Council and Galit Ben-Atar’s family
03/09/2006
To:
Mr. Moshe Vigdor
Director General, The Jewish Agency
Jerusalem

Re: Letter of thanks and appreciation

The head of Aabalin Regional Council, staff, children, youth and parents wish to express to you
their gratitude and great appreciation, to you as Director General of the Jewish Agency, and
the Jewish Agency employees, for the generous and warm assistance you gave the children of
Aabalin by funding a summer camp for students in grades 1-6 between August 27 and August 31,
2006, attended by close to 700 children and 86 youth leaders.
I offer you my heartfelt thanks, and express the hope that none of us experience war ever again.
We look forward to enjoying your continued cooperation in the future.
Sincerely,
Mark Asia And, of course, from all the
Head, Aabalin Regional Council children who had such a
Chairman, Appointed Committee great time.
Amir Habib Thank you, thank you and
Summer camp director thank you again.
Daniel, Ziv, Shlomi and Lior
Akko
 I s r a e l ’s c h i l d r e n s a y t h a n k y o u

Thank to the Jewish Agency for a

wonderful week and for the great
work you do
You promised you fulfilled

Maariv newspaper August 24th

Title of article: History is Repeating Itself: The Volunteers are Coming

A vast number of propositions will be offered to the volunteers, including service in hospitals and organizations dealing
with public health, the IDF, the elderly, absorption centers, and children in areas which sustained damage. Alternatively
they can volunteer in a city or community which sustained damage, under the aegis of partnerships which the Jewish
Thank you
Agency has established between the Jewish Communities worldwide and communities in Israel . . . .
May God watch over you for all that you have
Moshe Vigdor, the Director General of the Jewish Agency:
done for those of us in the north
One of the strongest features of the Jewish Agency, its fostering of cooperation between Jewish Communities
You were great
worldwide and communities in Israel, while inducing all currents [of contemporary Jewry] to form a single partnership
with a strong Israel at its center.
 I s r a e l ’s c h i l d r e n s a y t h a n k y o u

To the Jewish Agency.

Thank you for everything you did for us and

our children.
We love you very much.
Sarit Bozaglo
Akko

From an article from the Yediot

Aharonot newspaper, published on
August 9, 2006

South Lebanon Army (SLA)

Taken from an article published in the Maariv newspaper on July 18, 2006 Refugees from the North Take a
Vacation in Jerusalem
Thousands of Children from the North Are Getting Away from the Tension at Summer Camps “They gave their lives and their soul for
in the Center of Israel Israel, and now it’s time to repay them
for their efforts,” said Yona Bezaleli,
Thanks to a combined effort of the Supersol supermarket chain and the Jewish Agency around 3,000
who initiated the idea and paid for
children from the north – from Metullah, Tzefat, Naharyah, Merom Hagalil, Hatzor Haglilit, Tiberias,
the SLA members’ vacation with funds
Carmiel, Haifa and Baina and Rid Al-Assed – have gotten away from the wartorn north and are enjoying
provided by Jewish Agency personnel.
themselves at summer camps in the center of the country. Another around 450 children from Jewish
Agency absorption centers from all over the north are also at the camps.
Yesterday, Jewish Agency chairman Zeev Bielski, who visited one of the camps organized by the Jewish
Agency, said: “It is amazing to see how the children, who in view of the difficulty of the situation in the
north were separated from their families, radiate such happiness and joy.
 I s r a e l ’s c h i l d r e n s a y t h a n k y o u

Israel Television, Channel 1 News

July 23 2006

Haim Yavin:
. . . Everyone is trying to make sure that these youngsters are not exposed to the
missiles and moving them to Central Israel to uplift their spirits so that they will
not be afraid.

Eitai Dodi:
. . . At the Noar HaOved VeLomed summer camp in Petach Tikvah, the children are
being treated to a short respite from the pressures that surround them up north
....

Tamar Tziger:
. . . This is a special camp because the children have arrived after spending
traumatic days in bomb shelters. They are very tense because of what they
read in the newspapers and because of what their parents tell them about the
situation at home. They come here really, really scared. We are trying to create a
different experience for them.

An expression of thanks
in the Israeli press to
those who helped the
Jewish Agency bring
40,000 children from
the north to safety.
˙Ȅ‰ȉ ˙ÂÎÂÒ‰ Ï˘ ÒÂÙ„‰ ˙È·· Òل‰